A beloved former television news anchor who had been battling chronic liver issues has received an organ donation following an emotional public appeal. Amy McGorry, 56, who previously worked as a health reporter for News 12 Long Island and TV55, went public in mid-March about her quiet and grueling struggle with autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), two chronic conditions that had severely compromised her health.
A Desperate Plea Answered
McGorry urgently appealed to the public to help secure a liver transplant that could save her life. Remarkably, a viewer pursued the testing process discreetly after hearing her story. The donor, who remains anonymous but is an acquaintance of her family, turned out to be a perfect liver match.
"I'm just so thankful and grateful," McGorry told News 12. "This person is such a selfless individual. An incredible person who has given me the gift of life. This person needs to know that they've earned their straight path to heaven." She added that the surgery is scheduled for June 2026.
Rapid Deterioration and the Quest for a Living Donor
McGorry's condition had worsened rapidly in recent months, leading to debilitating and potentially fatal symptoms such as fainting episodes, internal bleeding, and dangerously low hemoglobin levels. Without a transplant, her failing liver risked shutting down other organs. In a tearful social media plea, she asked fans for help, saying, "Help me find a living liver donor that would be a match for me. You can help save my life. I can't even believe I have to say those words but I need a liver transplant. You can't wait."
Patients with PBC are often ranked lower on transplant lists, making it difficult for McGorry to rely on the traditional system. "The problem with PBC, you're the low man on the list when it comes to getting a transplant," she told the New York Post. Her only viable option was to find a living donor willing to undergo major surgery to donate a portion of their liver. "You have to find a living donor willing to do it - and that's a big ask - to go 'can I have a piece of their liver?'" she explained.
The Science of Living Liver Donation
In her appeal, McGorry clarified what the procedure entails: "The doctors explained that they'll take a portion of the liver from this person and it would grow back in two to three months which is pretty cool. The blood-type is O-Positive." Living liver donation is possible because the liver is one of the few organs capable of regenerating, typically within eight to twelve weeks. The process requires a healthy donor, a rigorous evaluation, and a willingness to accept significant risk.
